“Sgt. Trace” was shot earlier this year and left for dead. Thanks to the care and concern of several volunteers and agencies, the German shepherd has been given a new lease on life. — Courtesy photo

STANTON — It was sometime around last Christmas that neighbors living along Horseshoe Trail in Stanton first spotted Sgt. Trace pacing along the wood’s edge bordering their properties.

The German shepherd seemed friendly but standoffish, even at first. When approached, the dog would vanish into the woods.

Though the dog sported a collar it was apparent to some residents, like Rachel Van Zoest, that the shepherd was in a bad way. Burrs netted the lank fur hanging from his emaciated frame and he had obviously grown wary of people. In the months that followed, Van Zoest would occasionally spot Sgt. Trace and try to coax him into her yard where he could be corralled long enough to leash him and get him the assistance he needed. The dog was too skittish, however, and even animal control officers were unable to capture him.

Sgt. Trace’s shoulder and the bones around it were completely shattered from a gunshot. — Courtesy photo

And then someone — police are still trying to find out whom — shot the dog twice and left him to die. The shoulder bones of one front leg were completely shattered, as was the knee of the same leg. Despite this, Sgt. Trace managed to stay alive in the woods for days, maybe weeks.

By the time the dog was finally near death the wound had begun to heal. It was March 17, a Saturday, when Sgt. Trace came to ground against the back of Van Zoest’s home.

“He had been coming closer to the house every day for a while,” Van Zoest said. “Then I didn’t see him for a couple days. And then one day he was lying there next to the house and just couldn’t get up. I was sure he was going to die. His entire shoulder and the bones around it were completely shattered.”

Van Zoest called Montcalm County Animal Control, but it was closed for the weekend and wouldn’t be able to come out until Monday, regardless of the dog’s condition.

“I got in touch with family and friends,” Van Zoest said. “I called everyone I knew to see if they had any connection with a shelter or rescue organization.”

While awaiting developments, Van Zoest fed and watered the dog, which was by this time barely able to move. Using online social media, the plea for help quickly spread and was intercepted by Rhonda Waldorf of Sheridan, who works with Safe Haven Humane Society in Ionia. Waldorf agreed to go to Van Zoest’s home to see if there was anything she could do to help.

Safe Haven is a private animal rescue organization funded entirely through donations and run by volunteers like Waldorf.

“I went to Stanton where the dog was and he had already managed to drag himself back toward the woods, though he wasn’t able to move around much,” Waldorf said. “You have to be very careful around an injured dog. I approached him slowly and tossed him some canned food; he was very happy to receive it. Then I gave him some out of my hand and he never showed any signs of aggression at all. He was just glad to see a happy face.”

Though the dog was barely able to walk, Waldorf managed to get him into her car and transport him to the Animal Hospital of Lowell, where veterinarian Dr. Bruce Langlois provided treatment. Because of the extensive damage, Langlois was forced to amputate the leg.

Several area donors pooled resources to pay for the dog’s medical expenses. At last report, Sgt. Trace was still recovering from the surgery and it will be some time before he is ready for adoption.

Sgt. Trace, originally rescued by a member of Safe Haven, was passed on to Bellowood animal rescue in Cedar Springs. Volunteers from Bellowood handled Sgt. Trace’s veterinary care and raised funds to pay for his upkeep during recovery. Bellowood is accepting donations at (616) 696-2846 or via mail at Bellowood, 2985 16 Mile Road, Cedar Springs, MI 49319. Some information was incorrect in an an April 11 article titled “Animal lovers save life of dog.”

Meanwhile, police continue to investigate the case. If apprehended and convicted, the person who did the shooting could be facing up to four years in prison and fines of up to $5,000 in addition to covering the dog’s medical expenses.

“Sgt. Trace” was shot earlier this year and left for dead. — Courtesy photo

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Gladys Knight Ingalls was born Feb. 28, 1919. Woodrow Wilson was president, the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution authorizing prohibition had just been ratified and World War I was coming to an end. But Gladys grew up on a farm in the Stanton countryside, sheltered from much of the outside world. She was the second of six children born to Harrison and Edna Knight.

Six puppies were confiscated as evidence of a crime and placed in the Montcalm County Animal Shelter in the summer of 2009. The dogs weren’t released until 22 months later. “This is a happy story,” said Sandra Carlton of Greenville, who helped rescue the dogs. “It was such a sad, sad story that had such a good, good ending.”

God bless people like Rachel Van Zoest and Rhonda Waldorf, if more of us were as selfless & kind like them the world would be a better place. Even if it HADN’T been during a weekend I doubt the county’s animal shelter would’ve done anything…how do we know it wasn’t one of their officers who shot the dog?

Good story but there are a few important “oversights”. While it is true that Rhonda Waldorf from Safe Haven Humane Society captured the dog known as Sgt. Trace and took him to the vet, it is Bellowood Rescue that actually agreed to take the dog, pay his vet fees and keep him until he finds a home where he will be loved and appreciated for the wonderful dog he is! the pictures in this article were provided by Bellowood! Don’t bother contacting Safe Haven for more information about this dog because they no longer have anything to do with this rescue or Sgt. Trace. To find out more about Sgt. Trace you must go to Bellowood Rescue’s web site at http://www.bellowoodrescue.com or contact the director of Bellowood, Kim Schreuder, directly at 616-696-2846. Bellowood is a small, but very dedicated rescue. Kim is very knowledgable about German Shepherds and those of us who knew about this dog’s plight turned to her for help in housing this dog. Had she not be willing to take this dog, pay for his vet bills upfront, make several trips to the vet checking on him before his surgery and then taking him for subsequent vet visits to her vet to get additional vaccinations and post-op care, the outcome of this story could have been very different and not as happy.

There is also a sad update to this story. When Sgt. Trace was originally heartworm tested before his surgery his heartworm test was reported as negative but a subsequent heartworm test showed he is actually heartworm positive. So Bellowood Rescue must now incur the costs of heartworm treatment for this dog. Anyone willing to help with these new and unexpected medical costs can go to http://www.bellowoodrescue.com and make a donation through a CHIP-In account.

Also the cost of Sgt. Trace’s amputation and neuter was covered by the generosity of animal advocates throughout the state, — not just in our area.

I know we like to give praise to local people and there are many that deserve such praise but we should not ignore those outside our area that were instrumental and in Kim’s case vital, to the success of this rescue!

Seriously…you NOT only got the story totally WRONG, but you didn’t correct it?? As was promised?? Andy Kraft is non-animal friendly apparently, and not willing to admitt to mistakes that have taken place with Sgt. Trace’s Story. You have not only divered funds for this dog’s care to the wrong place, but also cost him a potential home. Your News Paper is run by cute fluffy girls, who are more worried about their nails than doing their daily jobs. I came in, directly to the office asking for a newpaper, paid for it and have given them my address twice! I’m asking that you Fix, what you have NOT done, for SGT. TRACE!!!! This is my name and my phone number; Kimberly Scott -Bellowood Rescue – Cedar Springs – 616-696-2846

I first want to address your crazy accusation! I take great offense to what you said about me and my character. My simple reply was “See tomorrow’s paper for the updated info”(A correction ran in the April 17th Daily News). Yet, you somehow find the need to accuse me of being “non animal friendly?”

I totally understand how issues such as these can lead to being emotionally charged. This attack is highly uncalled for and is the reason why I no longer volunteer with any rescue groups.

Before you toss out targeted attacks like it’s candy, please have a leg to stand on first.

1. We did run a correction in the Paper.

2. I attended every single meeting to get the Class B dealer out of the county. I even offered my technology services to the county in order to help adopt animals quicker.

3. I served on the Dog Park committee in Lowell, when I lived in the area you could find myself and my RESCUE dog at the park any hour of the day.

Next time you feel the need to attack me publicly without any cause please contact me first. I would be happy to set you straight…